STANLEY FOVARGUE | END OF SEASON Q+A | 07.06.2023

Under-18s defender Stanley Fovargue reflects on the season, including reaching the Suffolk Boys U18 Midweek Cup Final at Colchester United. 

DK: Thoughts on season from team and personal view point, would you say it's been a positive season?

SF: I thought the season was full of good performances during league games and in our cup run however a few bad performances during the league where we dropped points was disappointing and ended up us coming second in the u18s league.

DK: Can you put into words what it was like reaching the County Cup Final with the U18s? 

SF: Making it to the final was a big success as we haven’t been to the final for quite a few years as a club and thought it was a good achievement.

DK: A harsh result aside, it must've been an incredible experience playing at a professional ground in front of friends and family? 

SF: Although the result was not what we wanted and probably put a negative spin on the experience I still thought it was a great achievement to play in a pro stadium.

DK: Do any moments from the season standout to you, if so what are they? 

SF: Moments that stand out would be our poor performance against Ipswich wanderers until we turned it around and managed to win the game in the final minutes but the most stand out moment was the win against cornard to put us in the final of the cup.

DK: Do you have any targets for next season?

SF: Targets for next season is to go back and win the county cup.

BEN SMITH | END OF SEASON Q+A | 28.05.2023

Under-23s and Under-18s defender Ben Smith reflects on the season and targets winning silverware next season. 

DK: Thoughts on season from team and personal view point?

BS: It’s been a very long season I have to say, but from a team point of view I feel like everyone has progressed and we’ve done very well and bonded well to improve overall performances as a whole. I feel personally I have improved well over the season and it has been a success for me playing a lot more games then maybe first expected. 

DK: Can you put into words what it was like reaching the County Cup Final with the U18s? 

BS: Obviously it was a brilliant feeling making it to the final, I was part of the side that unfortunately got knocked out in the semi-final last year so it was a brilliant feeling to be able to put right that wrong and make it this year. Was obviously a massive shame about the result but every game is a learning curve just like the final was too.

DK: A harsh result aside, it must’ve been an incredible experience playing at a professional ground in front of friends and family? 

BS: Yes obviously as stated it was a harsh result but we all felt the result didn’t reflect the game fully with us being well and truly in the game for 60 minutes; but to be able to play at a professional ground for me this was a first time experience and it was a great experience especially having family and friends there to see (it’s a step in the right direction and hopefully in the future there will be many more of these games at professional grounds to come).

DK: Would you say its been a positive season for both the U18s and U23s? 

BS: Obviously from the 18’s point of view we would’ve gone into the season hoping to win the league as we always believe in ourselves to be the strongest in the league however this wasn’t to be but making the cup final covered this for us a bit so overall we’ve learnt a lot and would say that it was a positive season. For the 23’s we knew from the start of the season it would be tough season with many of us only being 17/18 playing in a men’s division but we set targets at the start of the season that we smashed and we also got the most points of any 23’s side in the league so for the 23’s I would say despite some bad results and games it was very positive.

DK: Do any moments from the season standout to you, if so what are they? 

BS: For me a massive standout from the season will of course be making the 18’s cup final and having the experience at Colchester's Stadium. Also a standout moment for me was beating Framlingham with the 23’s 4-0; at the time Fram were top of the league and we probably played the best we had all season in the game proving to people why we should’ve been in that league and proved to many who thought we wasn’t up to it that we were. One last stand out would of course be winning the first round of the FA Youth Cup at Kings Lynn that was a special occasion especially with it being my debut in the competition.

DK: Similarly do any goals you’ve scored this season stand out to you? 

BS: For me being a defender goals don’t come around too often so when they do they all are special so I would say any goal I’ve scored this season. However a standout would be scoring my first ever brace in the quarter final of the 18’s Cup against Mildenhall that was a special moment for me this season. Also scoring my first u23’s goal will always stand out as that’s a big achievement for me which meant a lot.

DK: Do you have any targets for next season? 

BS: Next season I will obviously be trying to be the best version of myself like always whilst also showing everyone what I am capable of on the pitch. My main goals to myself will be to be the best player I can be in myself and pushing on within the club as much as possible. And of course as anyone would say a target has to be some sort of silverware at some point throughout the season.

FLYNN CROSTHWAITE | END OF SEASON Q&A AND FIRST TEAM DEBUT REACTION | 04.06.2023

Midfielder Flynn Crosthwaite reflects on being the latest Academy player to make their first team debut (against Hednesford (20.04.2023) and then against Barwell (22.04.2023) in the final two league games of 2022/23) for Needham, and looks ahead to the upcoming 2023/24 season.

DK: Congratulations on making your first team debut, how did you find it and how did it feel starting the game as well? 

FC: Thank you, it was a great feeling to make my league debut for the club. Even being in the squad for me felt like an amazing achievement but as we were short with injuries and premier cup final approaching I was chuffed to see my name in the starting XI. The lads made me feel really comfortable and I was really excited to get going in the game. 

DK: Despite obviously the result not going our way, how did it feel to be chosen as Man Of The Match on your debut? 

FC: The result wasn’t ideal but we had many players playing out of position and another day it could have been a very different game. I think hednesford’s league position doesn’t reflect their squad as they were a strong organised side on the night. It felt very good to be chosen as MOTM. I felt like I did well during the game, I had to adapt to the pace of the game as it was a much higher tempo than what I have been used to be playing in. This did make my debut more special and something to look back on and be proud of. 

DK: Did you feel the scoreline was a bit harsh given the way we played?

FC: Definitely, I think we played well in spells of having good possession and creating some chances. On another day these go in and it completely changes the game and the result. I felt the goals we conceded were also avoidable so it turned out to be a frustrating result given the way we played. 

DK: Did it make it more special making your debut alongside fellow debutant Mo and other fellow current Academy players/graduates?

FC: 

Seeing many academy lads making their debut for the first team over the past few seasons has made me eager to do the same. This did help as there were many lads playing who I have also played with in the U18s and U23s. This helped settle any nerves and make the occasion more memorable. 

DK: After playing for the First Team in pre-season, did you think this opportunity would come along this season?

FC: After doing a pre season with the first team it was really good to see the levels that you need to train and play at week in week out to perform at this level. I knew if I performed well in the 23s over the course of the season then there was a chance I would make my debut. Young players making their debut has happened lots in the past seasons and I am grateful for Kev giving me this opportunity. 

DK: How would you sum up the season for you with the club so far from a personal perspective? 

FC: From a personal perspective it has been a quite frustrating season, this is due to being injured from October until mid January. I feel I have learnt lots in the u23s with this being my first full season of senior football. I also feel I have developed as a player from the beginning of the season to now. A big positive from this season despite the result in the final, making it to the U18 county cup final at Colchester United, this was a memorable cup run that I enjoyed lots.

DK: Speaking about the Suffolk U18 Cup Final, result aside (didn't deserve that defeat) can you describe how surreal that experience was?

FC: It was a really good experience playing at a pro stadium and against a strong Sudbury side. Having the use of all the facilities just makes you more driven to have the experience of this much more. The pressure of this stadium could get to people but I feel as a team we handled this very well and put in a really good performance on the night despite the result. 

DK: What targets do you have for next season?

FC: Looking forward to next season I am first of all excited for pre season, lots of training and games in some hopefully good weather! For next season I want to keep working hard and continue to improve my game as much as possible. I would like to also get as much minutes as I can throughout the season, hopefully some of these coming for the first team would be a personal target. I am also looking forward to going on another cup run with the U18s in the county cup and also fa youth cup. 

DK: Where does making your first team debut rank among the rest of the season for you, and your career to date? 

FC: Making my debut was definetly the highlight of my season and one of the biggest achievements of my career so far. The reason for this is that it is something I have been aiming and working towards over the past season. I want to thank the management and teammates for making this a special and memorable moment for me and I’m very much looking forward to seeing what next season brings!

OLLIE FRASER | END OF SEASON Q+A | 27.05.2023

Winger Ollie Fraser reflects on the season from the Under-23s perspective, stepping up to the first team and more.

DK: How do you reflect on the season from team and personal view point? 

OF: From a team point of view I would say that the 23s season was very positive . We managed to get the most amount of points a Needham team has got, and managed to win some difficult games. From a personal view I would say it was positive. Recieving player of season was a nice touch. 

DK: Can you put into words what it was like reaching the County Cup Final with the U18s and getting to play at a professional ground?

OF: It was amazing to play in the cup final, having a Needham team in the cup final after missing out for so many years was special.

DK: What was it like playing a handful of first team games this season? 

OF: It was a good experience playing with the first team . I enjoyed it , was challenging to get used to the way other teams play but I enjoyed it.

DK: Do any moments from the season standout to you, if so what are they? 

OF: A standout moment was probably playing for the England schools . It was a surreal experience and to win the shield as well was amazing.

DK: Do you have any targets for next season?

OF: For next season to add more goals and assist and hopefully continue playing being around the first team.